Committed to innovation

See how the Herma Heart Center's commitment to innovation has made us a global leader in pediatric heart care.

The Herma Heart Center at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin is the largest pediatric cardiac center in the state and ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the #5 pediatric cardiology and heart surgery program in the nation. Families worldwide trust the Herma Heart Center for compassionate, comprehensive and cutting-edge cardiac care for their children, before birth and into adulthood.

Why choose the Herma Heart Center for my child’s heart care?

No matter how routine or complex your child’s heart condition may be, there are many reasons to trust the Herma Heart Center for your child’s care:

High national rankings
Not only did U.S. News & World Report rank our heart care #5 in the nation, but Parents magazine also ranked us among the top 10 in the nation. We are the only fetal and pediatric heart program in the state ranked on these lists.

Exceptional outcomes
Our heart care consistently achieves outstanding outcomes – even for the most complex cases. Our pediatric heart surgery survival rates are among the country's best and have earned us a 3-star rating (the highest possible) by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, placing us among the top 5 percent of programs in the country. We have the world's best published survival rates for hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a very complex congenital heart disease. We treat more patients than any other heart program in Wisconsin and are among the busiest centers nationally – important because research says higher volumes lead to better care and outcomes. Learn more about our outcomes.

All the top heart specialists your child could need
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends choosing care from an extensive team of pediatric heart specialists. Our comprehensive heart care team includes three highly specialized congenital heart surgeons, multiple pediatric cardiologists and interventional cardiologists, fetal cardiologists, pediatric electrophysiologists, pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists and pediatric critical care specialists. These doctors lead our many specialty programs and many are ranked among The Best Doctors in America.

We pioneer life-saving treatments
Not only do we offer the latest heart care techniques, but we also pioneer them and teach them to others. Care teams from across the world visit us to shadow our caregivers and observe their techniques. Learn more about Herma Heart Center research.

Monitoring and follow-up boost outcomes
Herma Heart Center experts developed the nation’s first Home Monitoring Program, which has become a national care standard for babies who undergo certain types of heart surgery. The program is a key reason the Herma Heart Center has one of the best published survival rates in the world for treating hypoplastic left heart syndrome. We also developed the country’s first Neurodevelopmental Follow-up Program to boost a child’s life-long success after heart surgery. And, our staff helped pioneer and prove that better outcomes for newborns undergoing heart surgery are possible with an extra degree of monitoring after surgery.

Second opinions welcome
Second opinions help parents confirm that recommended treatment is right for their child. They also can surface other options to explore – even if treatment is already underway. Request a second opinion from the Herma Heart Center online or by calling (414) 607-5280 or (800) 607-5290 (toll free).

Superior support for traveling families
For families from out of the area, we’re here to help so that getting the care they need is as comfortable and convenient as possible. Herma Heart Center experts are available 24/7 for consultations, transport and other needs. Our Access Center helps families coordinate all aspects of their visits to Children’s Hospital. We have locations throughout Wisconsin and in Iron Mountain, Michigan, for follow-up care and we work with pediatricians and other caregivers who can provide post-treatment care close to home, as appropriate.

We all specialize in kids
It takes specialized training, equipment and expertise to care for a child’s developing body systems and tiny anatomy. We’re the only pediatric heart care program in Wisconsin entirely staffed by full-time fetal, neonatal and pediatric experts. We’ll do all we can to help your child and your family feel at ease during your stay.

We’re here for your questionsContact us to connect with Herma Heart Center doctors and staff about your child’s condition, get answers to your questions and learn what to expect.

Herma Heart Center patient stories

Born with half of his heart missing (hypoplastic left heart syndrome) Brandon underwent the first of three surgeries seven days after birth. Learn his story and more.

Learn more about choosing a heart hospital

Read a blog about deciding whom to trust with your child's heart surgery, written by Peter Frommelt, MD, pediatric cardiologist and acting chief of cardiology.